What changed
Nova Scotia reduced the provincial part of its HST from 10% to 9% on April 1, 2025. With the 5% federal GST, the combined HST is now 14% — the first general cut to the province’s sales tax since 2010. It is still 14% in 2026.
What 14% means in dollars
| Price before tax | HST at 14% | Was at 15% | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50.00 | $7.00 | $7.50 | $0.50 |
| $100.00 | $14.00 | $15.00 | $1.00 |
| $500.00 | $70.00 | $75.00 | $5.00 |
| $1,000.00 | $140.00 | $150.00 | $10.00 |
| $5,000.00 | $700.00 | $750.00 | $50.00 |
| $30,000.00 | $4,200.00 | $4,500.00 | $300.00 |
On a $1,000 purchase you pay $140.00 of HST instead of $150.00 — ten dollars less on every thousand. On a $30,000 car the saving is $300.
Which date counts?
Generally the new rate applies to tax that became payable on or after April 1, 2025 — usually the invoice or payment date. Contracts that straddled the date (a renovation billed partly before and partly after, for example) could have each part taxed at the rate in force when it was paid.
How Nova Scotia compares
| Province | Sales tax |
|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | 14% HST |
| New Brunswick | 15% HST |
| Prince Edward Island | 15% HST |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 15% HST |
| Ontario | 13% HST |
| Quebec | 14.975% (GST + QST) |
Shopping across the border in New Brunswick? You pay the rate of the province where you take delivery. Buy in a Moncton store and you pay 15%; have it shipped to Halifax and you pay 14%.
For businesses
Registrants in Nova Scotia charge 14% on taxable sales made there, and the input tax credits they claim reflect the rate they were charged. Point-of-sale systems, quotes and price lists set up before April 2025 should all now show 14%.
Quick reference: sales tax mistakes to avoid
- Subtracting the rate from a total. Always divide by 1 + rate to go backwards.
- Using your home province for online orders. Tax follows the delivery address, not where you or the seller live.
- Adding PST on top of GST-included prices. In B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec both taxes are calculated on the pre-tax price, never one on top of the other.
- Forgetting zero-rated items. A grocery receipt often mixes taxable snacks with tax-free basics, so the total tax is rarely a neat 13%.
- Rounding item by item. Stores calculate tax on the receipt subtotal, so your own sum can differ by a cent.
For small businesses and freelancers
You must register for a GST/HST account once your worldwide taxable sales pass $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive quarters (the “small supplier” limit). Before that, registering is optional — some freelancers register early so they can claim back the GST/HST they pay on equipment and software. Once registered, you charge the rate of the customer’s province, file returns (annually, quarterly or monthly) and keep receipts for six years. Quebec businesses also register for the QST with Revenu Québec, and B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba each have their own PST registration rules.
Rates in this guide were checked against the CRA’s GST/HST rate table on 5 November 2026; provincial budgets can change PST rates, usually with a few weeks’ notice.
FAQ
What is the HST in Nova Scotia in 2026?
14%: 5% federal GST plus 9% provincial. It was cut from 15% on April 1, 2025.
How much is HST on $1,000 in Nova Scotia?
$140.00, for a total of $1,140.00 — $10 less than under the old 15% rate.
Is New Brunswick HST also 14%?
No. New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador still charge 15% HST.
Sources (checked 5 November 2026): Canada Revenue Agency, “GST/HST provincial rates table” (canada.ca, 13% Ontario, 14% Nova Scotia from April 1, 2025, 15% NB/NL/PE); Revenu Québec, QST rate 9.975%; B.C. Ministry of Finance, PST 7%; Saskatchewan PST 6%; Manitoba RST 7%; cross-checked with TaxTips.ca “2026 sales tax rates” (revised Aug 28, 2026). Nova Scotia Department of Finance and Treasury Board, HST rate reduction announcement (2025).